Slugging a barrel on a 91-30

[opos]

I've slugged a number of revolver barrels before loading and shooting lead projectiles in them...I know my 2 Mosins have seen much wear and tear and figured slugging is a good idea before I begin to load for them. I've watched several videos and read several articles on slugging the barrel using either a .310 rifle ball (sort of flattened a slight bit) or a sliding style fishing sinker..again sort of flattened a bit...and driving these into and through the barrell with short pieces of hardwood dowel, stacked on on top of each other till the slug drops out of the chamber.

Nothing to it...just the way I'd do with a pistol barrel... Then I read a bit further and find many warnings about using the hardwood dowel to drive the slug as it may splinter or split and create an almost un repairable mess with the wood pieces jammed into the slug and levered into the bore. With the revolvers I've slugged I've never had a problem as one single dowel about 8 inches long is all that's involved but I can see that 3 or 4 dowel pieces sort of stacked and being used as the driver could get jammed in, split and or crack and really get jammed in.

Please give me your thoughts based on what you might have done or experienced before I move into this process...I also see that one man bore "slugs" with melted candle wax for about 6" of rifling and a bit of the chamber and then gently taps the wax casting out of the bore and measures that...

I just would like to do things the simple way..

many thanks
opos

[Shepard]

I'd try a pellet of triple 0 --- 000 buck shot. There 30 caliber. If it falls thru the barrel take and gently tap with hammer to flatten -- but just enough so it needs to be pushed thru the bore with a dowel and plastic hammer. You can also get 4 foot pieces of hardwood doweling.

[DevilDog]

Yes, we have all struggled with this seemingly simple, yet cumbersome task. My first slugging met with the splintering of a 4 inch very pointy section right at my face(WEAR EYE PROTECTION).
Makes you want to try the casting methods, there are actually products for chamber casting that will do nicely, but are a bit of a production in themselves.

Getting actual 'Lead' sinkers is tougher these days due to the contamination of waterways..so you need to be sure what your getting, and the #8 or whatever sinkers are not always labeled.

If you can, get the lead 'coil' of fishing weight, make sure it is good and soft (bendable).
Hammer a section into a oblong ball, a bit larger than your bore and slug on that, of course lube everything up good.

You can use aluminum rods which have been rounded on the end edges slightly to prevent splintering of wooden dowels, but I think this would be a perfect application of Delrin. I found this 1/4" x 60" rod for $5:
http://www.plasticsintl.com/delrin-black-.250in-dia.-60in-long-p-364-l-en.html
Cut into 12"-24" sections, it would be strong, yet non-scarring/splintering.
If you give it a try, be sure to let us know!

[opos]

I wonder if some solid solder (pure lead) in a coil might be pounded into a solid ball the right size and then used? I have some old solid core lead solder and may just give that a try..or maybe just get some .311 jacketed pellets and just load those...oh my.